According to investigators, the fraud is linked to a larger cybercrime syndicate operating out of Laos. The newly arrested accused, identified as Saurabh Singh of Vapi (Gujarat) and Patras Kumar alias Kelis of Firozpur City (Punjab), told police they helped route more than 350 SIM cards abroad. These SIMs were allegedly used by a foreign gang to mask their identity, contact Indian victims and execute cross-border extortion, investment scams and impersonation rackets.
Police said the network targeted single women and middle-aged men between 40 and 70 after scanning social media platforms and dating applications. Victims were profiled based on factors such as living alone, stable income and limited family supportparameters that made them more susceptible to intimidation.
In the Indore case, the woman was contacted via Skype and WhatsApp video calls by fraudsters posing as officials of central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and RBI. Claiming she was under investigation for money laundering, the callers gained access to her bank accounts, fixed deposits and equity holdings before transferring the money.
Investigators have traced arrests to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal, highlighting the syndicate’s wide footprint. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and a special team is now probing the international linkages.
Indore Police issued an advisory urging citizens to ignore threats issued over video calls and to avoid sharing banking details or OTPs with unknown callers. Officials said efforts are underway to identify the Laos-based handlers and dismantle the supply chain that fuelled the operation.
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